Trial starts May 20

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 08:38 PM.

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Prosecution of the two people accused of murdering Laura Ackerson can now go ahead as a single endeavor.

Friday, Judge Donald Stevens ruled in Wake County Superior Court that a motion from prosecutors to combine the cases of Grant Ruffin Hayes III and his wife, Amanda, should go forward. A Wake County grand jury indicted the couple on Aug. 9, 2011.

Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger said in court at the last hearing that the state believes Ackerson was murdered in an act of domestic violence. The Hayes and Ackerson shared custody of Grant and Laura’s sons, Grant IV and Gentle Reign.

Prosecutors typically seek to combine cases with common defendants as a way to avoid repetition of evidence, money and time when justice could just as well be served presenting the same evidence and testimony before one jury.

Ackerson was last seen on July 13, 2011, heading to Raleigh to see her children at the Hayes’ apartment. She and Grant Hayes were in a contentious custody battle, and she brought a civil suit against the couple in March 2010. In the initial court ruling, the Hayes were granted temporary custody under an emergency order with Ackerson having the children on the weekends.

The order stipulated the Hayes should switch the children with Ackerson on the weekends in Wilson or near a U.S. 361 exit off U.S. 264. Ackerson’s car was found by police 400 yards from the Hayes’ apartment.

The Hayes’ filing in the matter said Ackerson was “emotionally unstable” and not “economically fit,” while Ackerson said in December 2010 Hayes was “intentionally delaying the completion of the child custody forensic psychology evaluation, in order to keep temporary custody.”

Prosecution of the two people accused of murdering Laura Ackerson can now go ahead as a single endeavor.

Friday, Judge Donald Stevens ruled in Wake County Superior Court that a motion from prosecutors to combine the cases of Grant Ruffin Hayes III and his wife, Amanda, should go forward. A Wake County grand jury indicted the couple on Aug. 9, 2011.

Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger said in court at the last hearing that the state believes Ackerson was murdered in an act of domestic violence. The Hayes and Ackerson shared custody of Grant and Laura’s sons, Grant IV and Gentle Reign.

Prosecutors typically seek to combine cases with common defendants as a way to avoid repetition of evidence, money and time when justice could just as well be served presenting the same evidence and testimony before one jury.

Ackerson was last seen on July 13, 2011, heading to Raleigh to see her children at the Hayes’ apartment. She and Grant Hayes were in a contentious custody battle, and she brought a civil suit against the couple in March 2010. In the initial court ruling, the Hayes were granted temporary custody under an emergency order with Ackerson having the children on the weekends.

The order stipulated the Hayes should switch the children with Ackerson on the weekends in Wilson or near a U.S. 361 exit off U.S. 264. Ackerson’s car was found by police 400 yards from the Hayes’ apartment.

The Hayes’ filing in the matter said Ackerson was “emotionally unstable” and not “economically fit,” while Ackerson said in December 2010 Hayes was “intentionally delaying the completion of the child custody forensic psychology evaluation, in order to keep temporary custody.”

There was another custody hearing coming up on Aug. 15, 2011.

Investigators believe it was in the last visit to the apartment Ackerson was murdered and her body sawed into pieces, which were then placed in five coolers and dumped in Oyster Creek in Richmond, Texas. Police found remnants of her body in the creek on July 25, 2011.

The Hayes’ trial date is set for May 20.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.